Pathophysiology of dialysis related hypoxaemia.
In order to elucidate the pathogenesis of haemodialysis related hypoxaemia, lung function studies, measurements of intra-thoracic fluid changes, leucocytes and complement activity were made in 12 patients during a routine six hours dialysis using cellulose membranes. Coincidently with the fall in arterial oxygen tension, lung function was significantly impaired, paralleled by a decrease in transthoracic impedance, leucopenia and a decrease in plasma complement activity. It therefore is suggested that blood membrane interaction leads to complement-mediated pulmonary leucostasis evoking mild pulmonary oedema with impaired oxygen diffusion, resulting in hypoxaemia.
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen